World Briefing / The Netherlands

Furor over human trafficker's escape

Dutch police were hunting for one of the country's most notorious human traffickers after he fled while on a temporary release from prison to visit his wife and newborn child.

A court's decision last week to allow Saban Baran out of his cell for a week has caused outrage in the Netherlands, where he was serving a 7 1/2 -year sentence for human trafficking.

Baran, 38, was convicted last year of leading a gang that forced more than 100 women into prostitution, tattooing some to mark them as "property." Prosecutors also say some women were forced to have breast implants and abortions.